Linus Straßer is out in the second run of the slalom in Adelboden. Emma Aicher achieves the best German result of the weekend.
Hopeful Linus Straßer has suffered another setback a month before the start of the Olympic Games.
In the World Cup slalom in Adelboden, Switzerland, the World Championship third-place finisher was eliminated in the second run, continuing his series of weak results this season. In the six slaloms so far, he has only finished in the top ten once. French skier Paco Rassat celebrated his second season victory in front of around 30,000 ski fans on the Chuenisbärgli.
“That was too much from the top (…). Things are not going smoothly for him yet, that was too daring,” commented ARD expert and winter sports legend Felix Neureuther on Straßer’s exit. “He’s still missing that puzzle piece in his approach: how much risk do I take? How much tactics are involved? Oh, it’s a shame, that hurts us now.”
Straßer with problems after equipment change
Straßer has been riding with new equipment since the start of the season – and has been chasing his form ever since. His record this winter is sobering. Since finishing eighth in Gurgl in November in Rassaat’s first victory, he has only managed 17th and 14th places after a retirement. In Adelboden, he chose unsuitable equipment in the first run and then risked too much in the final in an attempt to improve from 16th place.
The best German result on the Chuenisbärgli was achieved by Fabian Gratz, who secured a strong ninth place in the giant slalom won by local hero Marco Odermatt. The 28-year-old had already impressed with a fifth-place finish in the Alta Badia race in December.
Straßer had finished on the podium three times in Adelboden in the past five years. To get in shape for the Olympics, he still has three races: the classic slaloms in Wengen, Kitzbühel, and Schladming – all places where he has already shone, even with a double victory in Kitzbühel and Schladming two years ago.
Emma Aicher finishes sixth in downhill
Emma Aicher achieved the best German result of the weekend. In the downhill in Zauchensee, she finished sixth – within striking distance of the podium.
Kira Weidle-Winkelmann finished twelfth. Lindsey Vonn underlined her favorite status for the Olympic Games with her second victory this season and 84th overall in her career. Sunday’s Super-G had to be canceled due to weather conditions.